either/neither

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Message de james posté le 2004-05-26 11:18:08 (S | E | F | I)
Quand est-ce on peux utiliser neither ou either?

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Edité par Webmaster le 26-05-2004 20:05

Réponse: long but simple de gizm0, postée le 2004-05-26 11:43:49 (S | E)
For example, the determiners both, either and neither are used when referring to groups of two. Both refers to two things of a group of two, either refers to one thing of a group of two, and neither refers to zero things of a group of two.
e.g. I have two brothers. Both of them are engineers.
I had two maps of the city, but I cannot find either of them.
There are two textbooks for the course. Neither of them is expensive

If it is desired to change a clause beginning with either so as to express a negative meaning, either must be changed to neither.
e.g. Affirmative Meaning: Either of the alternatives is acceptable.
Negative Meaning: Neither of the alternatives is acceptable.

Affirmative Meaning: Either hotel will offer you its best room.
Negative Meaning: Neither hotel will offer you its best room.

Either indicates a choice between two alternatives. Neither combines two negative ideas. Study the following examples of use:

Which of these apples would you prefer? ~ I don't want either of them, thanks.
You can either have the £15 cotton top or the £17 cotton-and-polyester blouse. You can't have both.
Neither Richard nor Judy could come to the party.
I want neither alcohol nor cigars for my birthday. Now that I'm fifty I must live a healthier life.
Both either and neither can function as pronouns, determiners or adverbs.

When they function as pronouns, they are often followed by of + noun phrase:

I've known you for two years, but I haven't met either of your two brothers yet. (OR: I've known you for two years, but I haven't met either Francis or Damien yet.)
Neither of my two brothers survived the war. Neither Francis, nor Damien.
Which of these fur coats is yours? ~ Neither (of them). That one's mine.

When they function as adverbs, they behave as linking words which can be tagged on in agreement at the end of a negative sentence. But with neither, subject and verb are inverted, with either this does not happen:
I can't make the meeting on Tuesday. ~ No, neither can I (OR: No, nor can I.)
I can't make the meeting on Tuesday. ~ No, I can't either.
I don't approve of sex before marriage. ~ No, neither do I. (OR: No, nor do I.)
I don't approve of sex before marriage. ~ No, I don't either.
I don't go mountain climbing and I don't go mountain walking, either. (OR: I don't go mountain climbing and neither do I go mountain walking.

Too can function as an adding adverb which is placed in agreement at the end of an affirmative sentence. Compare the following:

I like peaches and nectarines best. ~ Yeah, I like peaches and nectarines, too.
I don't like peaches or nectarines. ~ No, I don't like peaches or nectarines, either.

When either and neither function as determiners, they are placed before the noun.

On neither side of the road was there anybody to be seen.
Neither player could raise his game. It was a very boring game of tennis to watch.
The sisters in the photograph were standing on either side of their dad. (OR: ...on each side..., OR: ...on both sides....)

Neither of them is or neither of them are?

I don't think there is a clear answer, Wojciech. Although this of-pronoun is normally considered singular, it is normally followed by plural nouns or pronouns. Thus, the boundary between singular and plural is blurred and effectively it can go with either a singular or plural verb form. Strictly speaking, it should be singular, but you will hear both formulations with no clear preference for one or the other:

Neither of them are coming. They both have to work next weekend.
Neither of them is coming. They both have to work next weekend.
Which of these umbrellas is yours? ~ Neither of them are. That one's mine.
Which of these umbrellas is yours? ~ Neither is. That's mine.
There is similar confusion, I think, when neither...nor are employed as conjunctions, meaning not one and not the other. Consider the following:
Neither Francoise nor Helmut likes to eat English breakfasts, even at weekends.
Neither Franciose nor Helmut like to eat English breakfasts, even at weekends
Neither Emma nor Susan gets on with Chloe.
Neither Emma nor Susan get on with Chloe.

Réponse: re de chrisg, postée le 2004-05-26 16:15:37 (S | E)
C'est trop long gizmo, t'as pas un résumé plus court. Et c'est qui Wojciech à qui tu t'adresses ?

Réponse: Neither do I / So do I ... de rosminet, postée le 2004-05-26 16:22:07 (S | E)
1st speaker : I like fish
2nd speaker (agree) : So do I.
2nd speaker (disagree) : Really ? Do you ? I don't.

1st speaker : I don't like garlic.
2nd speaker (agree) : Neither do I.
2nd speaker (disagree) : Really ? Don't you ? I do.

Réponse: Both / Neither / Either / All / None de rosminet, postée le 2004-05-26 16:24:17 (S | E)
They have 2 children
* Both of them like ice-cream.
* Neither of them like fish.

They have 3 children
* None of them like fish.
* All of them like ice-cream.

You can have either jam or butter, but not both !

Réponse: SVP de ideal, postée le 2004-05-26 20:10:28 (S | E)
Merci de nous expliquer un peu en Français car certains ne comprennent pas les explications en Englais !
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-Both = les deux
-All = tous
-Neither = ??
-Either = ??
-None = ??

IDEAL .

Réponse: Neither do I / So do I de rosminet, postée le 2004-05-26 20:27:02 (S | E)
1st speaker : I like fish = J'aime le poisson.
2nd speaker (agree) : So do I. = Moi aussi.

1st speaker : I don't like garlic = Je n'aime pas l'ail.
2nd speaker (agree) : Neither do I = Moi non plus.

Réponse: Neither / Either / Both / None / All de rosminet, postée le 2004-05-26 20:29:33 (S | E)
They have 2 children = Ils ont deux enfants.
* Both of them like ice-cream = Ils aiment tous les deux la crème glacée.
* Neither of them like fish = Aucun d'eux n'aime le poisson.

They have 3 children = Ils ont trois enfants.
* None of them like fish = Aucun d'eux n'aime le poisson.
* All of them like ice-cream = Ils aiment tous la crème glacée.

You can have either jam or butter, but not both ! Tu peux avoir soit de la confiture ou du beurre, mais pas les deux !

Réponse: :) de ideal, postée le 2004-05-26 20:49:28 (S | E)
Merci Rosminet pour les explications en français que tu nous a apporté !

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